Big Zip Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 If you clicked this link you have to be wondering why I posted it -- call it a slow news month. Nonetheless one of the things I've found amazing over the years has been the willingness of schools like Akron to give coaches contract extensions that are lose/lose equations. The school most always lets a coach interview for better jobs even if they are under contract and if the team sucks you have to pay them if you fire them. With that as the build up -- I find it ironic that a big school like BC is the first to my recollection to tell a coach -- you go interview and we'll fire you. My question is if you fire him do you have to pay him or is this a breach of contract of sorts? Or is it only a breach of contract if he takes the job. I just hate to see these situations where a school gave you security, you signed the contract and then you look to run at the first opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 Don't you still have to pay out the contract if you fire a coach?I think a better solution is to have a buyout clause that's worth more than the actual contract. If they're leaving for more money, they can afford it and the school gets some cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheZone Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 The answer to this problem is real simple. When coaches clamor for contract extensions and security they schools should say fine, we'll give you the extension, but not only is it us making a commitment to you, but its you making a commitment to us as well. There will be a clause in your contract that if you interview for another job, you better hope you get it, because youre fired if you don't with no severance package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickzips Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 In theory what you guys are talking about works. In practice it's idealistic and unreal. As long as one school is out there willing to forego some kind of buyout provision coaches are going to expect that as the norm and other schools will have to forego buyout provisions in order to attract the best coaches. Not to mention the fact that there really aren't enough GOOD coaches out there to go around. Basic supply and demand says that the price for a GOOD coach goes up as a result and part of that is giving them the freedom to walk away whenever they want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 In theory what you guys are talking about works. In practice it's idealistic and unreal. As long as one school is out there willing to forego some kind of buyout provision coaches are going to expect that as the norm and other schools will have to forego buyout provisions in order to attract the best coaches. Not to mention the fact that there really aren't enough GOOD coaches out there to go around. Basic supply and demand says that the price for a GOOD coach goes up as a result and part of that is giving them the freedom to walk away whenever they want.Sounds like you know a lot about this.I have always said, never let the facts get in the way of your beliefs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
you am i Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 If you clicked this link you have to be wondering why I posted it -- call it a slow news month. Nonetheless one of the things I've found amazing over the years has been the willingness of schools like Akron to give coaches contract extensions that are lose/lose equations. The school most always lets a coach interview for better jobs even if they are under contract and if the team sucks you have to pay them if you fire them. With that as the build up -- I find it ironic that a big school like BC is the first to my recollection to tell a coach -- you go interview and we'll fire you. My question is if you fire him do you have to pay him or is this a breach of contract of sorts? Or is it only a breach of contract if he takes the job. I just hate to see these situations where a school gave you security, you signed the contract and then you look to run at the first opportunity.You ask if it would be a breach of contract for BC to fire him if he interviews, or if it would be a breach of contract if he takes the job. The answer is: it depends on what the contract says. Some contracts have loopholes and some don't. For instance, a coach may have a contract saying that he will not accept another head coaching job during the term of the contract, and then he does anyway (see West Virginia U. and Rich Rodriquez). Then its just a matter of having the lawyers figure out the damages to the jilted school. Many times the penalty for a breach is built right into the contract, such as "if you take another head coaching job during the term of this contract you will pay us $1,000,000." And if Rodriquez's contract with WVU had said that he would not leave "unless Michigan offers me a job" then obviously there would be no damages.Firing a coach for even interviewing for another job would seem to be something outside the terms of most contracts. Absent something in the contract specifically prohibiting that, I think the coach could sue the school if the school fired him for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 Firing a coach for even interviewing for another job would seem to be something outside the terms of most contracts. Absent something in the contract specifically prohibiting that, I think the coach could sue the school if the school fired him for that.You mean to tell me there's still such a thing as the Bill of Rights in America? Goodness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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